Natasha Smith - Britains Most Notorious Killers: A Raw Look at Over 70 of the Worst Killers in British History

When at a bookstore, do you bolt for the romance section, or do you linger around historical novels? Are you interested in the psychology of murderers or have a morbid curiosity about the underworld of crime? Would you prefer a coming-of-age story or an edge-of-your-seat thriller? If you said the options I predict you did, then this book is for you.

Read all about the gruesome, nitty-gritty details of the most scandalous killers in the United Kingdom as they galvanized and redefined the scope of crime. Experience a journey back in time and immerse yourself in the tales of the first notorious serial killers: John George Haigh and Peter Manuel in the 1940s and 50s, all the way up to the most shocking murders of 2021. This book promises to explore cases you may be familiar with and shock you with some youve never heard of.

To understand the history of each murder, cases are organized chronologically by the date of arrest for each criminal. Some trials were very clear-cut; however, others had a divided jury, and some killers were not arrested until years later when improvements were made in DNA testing.

This insatiable interest in true crime is nothing to be ashamed about. Studies (Bonn, 2014a) show that our brains are attracted to calamity, and we remember that which shocks and repulses us most. Its unfathomable for many of us to think of carrying out such awful crimes, therefore, true crime provides readers with an adrenaline rush that they can experience from a distance.

While we may never know what makes people kill, this book approaches each case in extraordinary detail and provides you with a thrill that only true crime is capable of. In the end, we will mourn for the victims, acknowledge the successes and flaws in the criminal justice system, and understand the important work Innocence Projects are doing to exonerate the wrongfully convicted.

Intrigue vs. Glamor

While we will discuss the graphic details of each murder, remember that these killers are infamous because of their victims. Even if their lives were difficult, these killers deliberately caused someone elses death. This fact is not something to celebrate. There is a key difference between morbid curiosity about the psychology of killers and glamorizing their actions. Thus, the descriptions of violent murders and rapes will be intense and raw, but not sensationalized.

Trigger Warning

The victims in this book range from babies to the elderly and vulnerable. There will be no sugar-coating of facts or censoring the macabre details of each case. Chapters will get graphic at times, so if you are easily unsettled, this book may not be appropriate for you.

Considering the vast number of cases, some readers may have a personal connection to those involved, which could be triggering. This book is not meant to offend or cause trauma; it is merely an informative and entertaining escape for people who want an insiders look into the UKs history of crime.

If you find yourself unable to stomach the book, that is perfectly acceptable. Murder is a deeply disturbing subject for some. On the other hand, if you want to know even more about these cases or forensic psychology, there are numerous resources at the end of this book to get you started.